RCS
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Registered: 26th Jan 05
Location: Lichfield/Dundee
User status: Offline
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Did my first race at Oulton Park International with the uni 206 yesterday. Was awesome!
Had a test day on the friday and spent that learning the circuit and trying out some damper settings. Started the day around 2min 30s. Finally got to grips with it in the last session and was bringing my times down by 2 seconds a lap! My best was a 2min 10s and that was the last lap I did of the day!
Went first in qualifiying, it had just started to rain so thought I'd try and get a quick time in now while it was dry. Unfortunately traffic was a major problem, and nobody seemed to want to let me past! Got angry with an Accord, he kept on holding me up. Eventually did a really slow lap to get some space, but I was still catching traffic by the end of a quick lap and the rain was getting worse so didn't really get a fast time in  We qualified 18th out of 23 in the end which was disappointing. The throttle was sticking aswell, and the only way it wouldn't was if you were either full on or off so couldn't really attack corners that well.
We managed to replace the throttle cable and bend the pedal so that it wouldn't stick, but made the mistake of not realising the pedal would now hit the throttle stop differently. More about that later.
For the race all I wanted to do was not crash seeing as our last two events had been spoiled by that. The rain had stopped but the track was still wet so we disconnected the front anti roll bar and set the dampers full soft.
I was starting the race and was pretty nervous, but as soon as the red lights went off I went into competitive mode! Got a really good start, I seemed to be the only one moving when the lights went out! The car that was meant to be in front of me on the grid hadn't made the race and I got a really good run up to the first corner. Took a few cars by the first corner and settled in behind the Accord (ex BTCC production class) that held me up in practice and I was all over him. Managed to outdrag him coming out of the first chicane (which felt really good haha) and next in my sights was an Alfa. Went to outbreak him into the last corner and when I changed into 3rd the engine was screaming...looked down and the throttle pedal was stuck to the floor 
I slammed on the brakes, then flicked the engine off and rolled onto the grass. I saw that the pedal had got stuck behind the throttle stop. Managed to flick it back then went into the pits and they gave it a bash with a hammer and checked the rest of the cable was ok.
Went to leave the pits but the red light was on. The safety car had gone out. I had to wait till it came round so that put us a lap down!
In the end we finished 14th. Pretty pissed off that a simple problem prevented us a good finish. Keep thinking I shouln't have pitted and just been careful with the throttle!
Been a bit cursed with this new engine we designed, the true potential of the car hasn't been shown due to crashes and problems. We should be top 5 easily!
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jr
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Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
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Nice one mate, do you all share the driving then ?
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RCS
Member
Registered: 26th Jan 05
Location: Lichfield/Dundee
User status: Offline
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Yeah theres the option of having two drivers so theres a driver change during the race. It was me and someone who works for the uni driving yesterday. Adds a bit of excitement and its good for students to get involved. Managed to do a driver change in 23 seconds!
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AK
Member
Registered: 5th Jul 00
Location: Aberdeen City
User status: Offline
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not bad.... Oulton is a great track isnt it!
I've done the International in the R32, but no idea on lap times
Its frustrating as hell knowing you could and should do better. These things happen though, through your own fault and no ones fault 
We left the car a bit light on fuel at Silverstone and coulddnt get a clean timed lap due to fuel surge!
Last year at knockhill Fee destroyed the car Power steering was shot, clutch was gone, intercooler was holed! She ended up 18th out of 25 or something though
[Edited on 10-08-2008 by AK]
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RCS
Member
Registered: 26th Jan 05
Location: Lichfield/Dundee
User status: Offline
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I loved it! You really have to have balls to go fast with all the hills that unsettle the car. I had Druids down to a tee and down that straight I was catching everything
It is frustrating but its all a learning curve! Cadwell is up next. Don't know if we are doing it yet as its a bit risky if you come off 
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RCS
Member
Registered: 26th Jan 05
Location: Lichfield/Dundee
User status: Offline
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Some footage from the race...
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v328/RichardScott/?action=view¤t=CoventryUniversity206RichardScottFa.flv
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v328/RichardScott/?action=view¤t=CoventryUniversity206DaveWilliamsFa.flv
Heres some data traces of speed and throttle postition for our fastest laps during the race.
Im the green trace for speed, pink trace for throttle position.
Can see that if I changed down to 3rd in turn 3 I would have been faster along the straight. Can also see where I get held up by the Fiesta at the end of lap.
Its a pity we couldn't get the data logger working on the test day, would have been good to use it to see where I could improve! Would also be useful whilst testing damper settings as you would be able to see how the handling characteristics changed with different damper settings.
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Superlite Ltd.
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Registered: 9th Jan 07
User status: Offline
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Throttle position is looking good too. No fanny stuff, when its on, its on 
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Corsa_Scotty
Member
Registered: 8th Aug 07
Location: Scottish Borders
User status: Offline
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Awesome  whats the spec of the 206? 
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nik
Member
Registered: 19th Jun 00
User status: Offline
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Nice one  Was expecting tails of a traffic light grand prix though and a good ribbing so I feel let down
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Mertin
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Registered: 12th Oct 05
Location: Scotland
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Corsa_Scotty
Awesome whats the spec of the 206?
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RCS
Member
Registered: 26th Jan 05
Location: Lichfield/Dundee
User status: Offline
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Fully Integrated Roll Cage
Lightened Bonnet
Lexan Windows
Digital Dash
Pi Research Data Logger
In Car Cameras
AP Racing Brakes
KW Suspension
Solid Rear Bushes
Adjustable Top Mounts
Mk2 Escort Quick Rack
2.0 16v EW10 Engine, developed using Ricardo WAVE
Gas Flowed Cylinder Head, Enlarged Throats, Peugeot 405 Inlet Valves, Solid Lifters, 284 9.5mm Cams, Adjustable Pullies, CR 11.6
Knife Edged Crank, Shot Peened Connecting Rods, Accralite 86mm Forged Slipper Pistons, Custom 3.4kg Flywheel, Titon Racing Clutch. Components all Balanced.
GSXR 750 Throttle Bodies
Longman Inlet Manifold
ITG Trumpets
4-1 Exhaust Manifold with 500mm Primaries, Diameter of 38mm. Straight through 2 Inch System with Silencer.
Emarald ECU
210bhp 260Nm
Just ordered new injectors for switching to E85, so will be at the rolling road next week hopefully.
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